Rail anchor



. the rail Passed .im 1,1929.

" UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

'cuantas n. snnrrman, or SPRINGFIELD, Massacnusn'rrs, assxcnon 'ro winnaar nam, or scansnann, Naw roam nur. Ammon.

Application Bled July 19,

si ed to prevent .the longitudinal creeping oigilails and known as rail anchors.

This invention hasfor an object a one-piece rail anchor which is eflcient in use and easy to apply and remove, if necessary.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rail anchor the normal length of w ich 1888. Serial I0. 293,918.

adapted to extend transversely beneath the railbase flange. The body member 1, at one end thereof, is formed with a rail flangeengaging means, preferably comprising an upstanding lip 2, e inner surface 3 of which is ada ted to engage a vertical edge'of a rail -baseange. The opposite end of the body membervl is formed is greater than the width or cross-section of o d or three-ply loop member 4. The lower the rail base flange which it is intended eng e.

A rther object of this invention is vide a rail anchor having clamping means,"

said clamping means being rem'lient and yielding.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a rail vanchor having a -clam ing member which includes a yielding an resilient S-shaped, three-fold or three-ply member ada ted to engage the lower surface of A still further object'of 'this invention is to provide a. rail anchor which, when in position on a rail base flange and tilted under sufficient pressure, causes various parts thereof to contact and brace each other, increasing the rigidity of the anchor and resulting in a firm owerful bitingaction on the rail base flange ythe anchor.

v Additional objects will appear from the following description,hereinafter appended claims and the accompanying drawingsfin Figure 1 is an isometric view of the anchor constituting this invention.

this invention applied in position on the rail base flange, the rail base ila-nge being shown in Sectio 3 illustrates one'of the position-s assumed by the anchor during application'to a. railfbase flange. i

to the rail base ange, the dotted lines illus'',.

trating the anchor after application and the full lines pacman.'

- Figure 5 Villustrates a vmodification. ofthe" anchor illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. Figure 6 illustrates another modification. Re errin'g tothe drawings and especially If desire illustrating the anchor prior to .ap-

-en 5 of the S-shaped member 4 is curvedl andconstitutes a tie-abutting means. Connected to the tie-abutting means 5 bymeans of an easy bend 6 is a substantially vertical shank 7 which terminates ina substantiall yrigid member 8 bent at an yangle to 'said shan With an S-shaped, three- 7, and adapted 'to' engage the upper surface of a railbase flange.

lThe member 8 is adapted to engage theu per surface of Va rail base flange and may be made o f any form or conf ration. In the drawings I have illustra it ashaving an angle corresponding to the base flange which it is intended to engage., The apex or upper'v surface 9 of the S- shaped member 4 is disposed beneath the member 8 a distance normally less than the cross-section orv thickness of the rail base flange adapted to be engaged thereby, and, together with the substantially ri 'd member 8, constitutes means t9 clamp an grip a rail base flange.

Normally the face 10 of the S-shaped member is positioned adjacent but spaced from .the inner surface 6 of the easy bend 6. vThe upper end 11 'of the S-shaped member 4 is in Figure 2 illustrates the'anchor constituting vclose proximity to a point 12 of the middle or second pliy 3 or vfold of the S-shaped member. the anchor maybe so constructed vangle of the rail that these'two points contact,`- The-horizon-v tal distance between the inner face y3 of the vthe width of a standard? rail base-ange.

llip 2 and the face 10 of thev Sshaped member 4 isnormally thesame as en -greater than 'Figure'.4 illustrates the'relation of parts before andafter the anchor has been' applied Also, the distance between the inner face Z'l'of f' thelip2 and the inner face of the shank 7 is greater than tliewidth of a standard rail n e. I 1 T egri tortion ofthe'various from their normal position to their position on a rail base flange. In the anchorconstituting this invention the degree of vdistortion depends on the distance between the clam ing 'elements 8 and 9 and the plane occupi by -the portion 13 adjacent the lip member-` 2. .As'

ofthe.. anchor depends on the diad l arts of the anchor lmember 8 may a distance greater made, to occuly above described, the distance between vthe clamping elements 8 and 9 is normally less than the thickness of a rail base flange to be en aged thereby.

he portion or surface 13 adjacent the lip relation of these parts any desired grip or holding force may be obtained.

'In application 'he clamping means 8 and 9 of the anchor are applied to the. rail base flan e and-pushed on as lfar as they willgo.

At t e end of this operation the anchor will assume the position illust-ratedA in Figure 3. The end 14 of the' member 8 ,will bear upon the upper surface of the rail base flange and vertical shank with a spikemaul, whereby thel the lip member 2 will be beneath and engagesome int on the under-surface of the rail base anchor, as by striking the outer face of the anchor is, distorted and the parts 8 and 9 caused to travel upon the rail base flange until the' lip 2 clears of the rail base flange In thev application of the anchor to the ra1l I base flange, the substantiall rigid member 8 and the shank 7 are force upwardly and outwardl the eas bend 6 servingas a fulcrum as s own in igure 4. At the same time the S-shap'ed member 4 is depressed, whereby the face 10 ofthe S-shaped member 4 is movedfdownwardl'y and outwardly.l During vzic the rail base lflange 'forces the end 14 of 'the thisfde'pression thev face 10 may or may not contact with the inner face (if of the easy bend 6.

Also, if sufiicient distortion occurs, the upper end 11 of the S-sha ed member 4 may contact with the middle old at the point 12. Due to this distortion', the applied pressure member 8 to travel up on the inclined surface of the rail base flange, andthe apex 9 to travel transversely on the under surface of the rail base flan e until the lip 2 clears the opposite edge 4of t e rail base flange-and' sna s into position.

y At thebeginning of t e application of the anchor to the rail base flange, due to the rais-l ing of the substantially rigid member 8, its

angle ischanged.

-Durin'g the application the inclined surface of and when the anchor snaps into position the angle of the memthe end 14 rides .upon

sufficiently to attainA -s aced ange. Pressure is then -applied to the flange the opposlte vertical edgel p and snaps into position;

spaced from the S- ber 8 is again changed and it assumes an angle approximating the angle of the rail base flange. Throughout the application of the anchor to the rail base flange the body member 1 does not substantially yield or flex. The yielding issubs'tantially confined within the clamping means 8 and 9 and its cooperatin parts, namely, the shank 7 and the easy ben 6. t

In applying the anchor it is possible to overdrive the anchor and force the inner surface of the shank 7 in contact with the vertical edge of therail base-flange. This, however, cannot occur until after the lip 2 has 'cleared the opposite edge of the rail base flange. If the anchor is overdriven to any extent', the inner face 3 of the li 2 lvvill be from the vertical edge of t e rail base ange, which it is intended to engage, a distance equal to the amount that theanchor has been overd'rjiyen. As soon as any pressure or force is applied to the tie-abutting portion 5, which will occur when the rail starts tol creep or slip, the anchor will adjust itself by shifting transversel of the rail and 'assuming its normriapplie position.

The normal positionof the anchor on a rail base flan e is illustrated in Figure 2. It will be seen t at the rail is engaged and tightly A held between the clamping means formed by the member 8 and the-apex 9 ofthe S-shaped member 4. The vertica edge of the rail base within the clamping means 8 and 9 is free and spaced from the shank 7. Also, a ortionof the under surface adjacent the ver! tical edge of the rail base' flange is free and haped member. 4. The" opposite edge of the rail base flange is engaged by the inner surface 3 of the upstand ing lip 2. Due to the disposition ofthe portion 13 and the' distance between the elements 8 and 9, the necessary upward and downward .loo

pressures to secure a firm grip are obtained. i

the shank 7 and a pressure on the apex-9. Since the member 8 is substantially rigid and does not yield appreciably, the `surface 10 under sullic1ent ressure will be forced into contact with the ace 6', thus forming a brace and restricting further tilting. In the tilted posi tion the upper rail base flange-engaging means 8, and he lower rail flange-engagingv means 9 will bite into the rail'base flangeA and effectively restrain any further slipping or movement on the part of the rail.

The modification illustrated in Figure 5 differs from 4the preferred form illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, in that the shank 7 is substantially ,at right angles to the tieabuttin means 5. It further differs from the pre erred modification in that the outer surface 10 of the S-shaped 'member4 does not cooperate with any easy'bend to form a" brace during tilting of thef anchor. The face 10 may, however, under sufficient pressure contact with the shank 7 In'all other spects this modification is similar to the preferred form and further description thereof is deemed unnecessar The modification lllustrated in Figure 6 differs'from the preferred form illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive in that they S- shape member 44 has its middle member disposed at an angle instead of horizontally,

whereby the u per portion 41 thereof cannot I' 1. A rail anchor comprising-'a mem# contact with t e middle; member 42. In all other respects this modification is similar to the preferred form and further description thereof is considered unnecessary.- .l

I claim:

ber, rail fiange-engaging means disposed on one end thereof, an S-sha ed member dis- 1 face of a rail loperatmg with -said S-shaped member to -form a rail base flange-clamping means.

sed on the opposite endo said body mann' r and adapted to engage the under aurase ange, and means to en age Vthe upper surface of a rail base-flange and c0 2. Arail anchor comprising a body-meml ber, rail flange-engaging means disposed Ion 4one end thereof, anS-shaped membe` adapted to yieldin ly enga e the under surface of a v p'er surface of a rail i, with saidS-shaped 45 ber rail'flange-enga ing 'ogsh rail base ange, an means toengage the upbase flange cooperatin member to form a ra' clampingmeans. v.

-3. A rail anchor comprising a body inemy means 'disposed on one end thereof, an a ed'member adapted to yieldin ly engage tde under surface .of a' rail-.b asel ange, an'dsubstantially rigid means 'toengage the upper surface of arail base flange cooperating with saidsfsh'ap'ed member Ato form a railclampingmsans` 4 '-4. A rail anchor comprising abo'dyfmem ber, rail flange-engaging means disposed at said S-shapedmember being adapted to' en- 'gagethe under surface of a rail base flange,

and means to engage the upper surface of af rail base `flange and cooperating* with said- -apex' to form -a vmeans.. '5. -A rail anchor'comprisinga body mem-z rail base angef'clamping one end thereof, n s-shaped membe disposed at the other end thereof, the apex of said S-shaped member being'adapted to enga e an frail base flange and cooperating withsaid the under surface of a rail base flan e,

means to engage the upper surface o a 79,

apex to form a rail base `flange-cla-mpin means, the surface adjacent the first name rail flange-enga ing means and said apexlying in planes higher than that occupied by said body member. i l

6.' A -rail anchor comprising a body member,"rail flange-engaging means disposed at one endl thereof, an S-shaped member dls-`` posed at the other end of said bodymember and adapted to engage the under surface of a rail base fiange, said S-shaped member forming a tie-abutting means, a shank connected to said tie-abutting means, said shank terminating in a member ada ted to engage the upper surface of a rail ase flange and cooperating' with said S-shaped member to form a rail base fange-clamping means.

7. A rail anchor com risin a. body member, an S-shaped mem er disposed at one end thereof and adapted to engage the under surface of a rail base flan e, a shank, abend yconnect-ing said shank-an said' member dis'I posed in close proximit to the second fold of' saidmember, said s ank terminating in' 4'meansto engage the uppersurface'of a rail y thereof and adapted to engage the underl surlos facev` of afrail lbase flange, -a` shank, a bend "connecting said jshank andl said S-shaped member disposed in close prOXimit-g to the second f old of said -S-shaped mem .bertbeingdisposeain-piaaesinging@hanane body member.

v'ber,"'an` Sfshaped member disposed at one end -one lend thereof, an, S-'shapedfmembcr dis-".1 fthereofandadap'ted to engage theunders'uri facejof a rail base'flange, al shank, .a'ibend'A connectin said `'shank' --and 'said S-shaped fmember isposedjinv close proximit tofthe second-fold fof saidlS-shaped'mem r, said.-

shank terminatin clamping means and rail base flange-enag I' y r.. Said r shank terminating in means` to engage-the Vupper surface of a rail base lflange and c0 ymeans to engage t, e uppersurface ofa rail 'base flange and} cooperating with lsaid S- shaped^.member to form` a- 'rail ba'sefangebar; rail flange-engaging means at clampingmeg-ns, mdm1-- bm in "substantially rigid;

. said body member.

i `l end of said bodyv mem v connected by said bend to said S-shaped engage the upper surface of member, said shankv terminating in means to a rail base ange and cooperating with said S-shaped member i, to form a" rail base Iiange-clamping means,

= f member.,

- one end thereof, rail fiange-clampinvr meansdisposed on the other end of said body member,` said clamping means com '.bef,

4ber,

-shank connected by v means .to engage the upper sur shapedv member "either orboth of said communicated.

said S-sha ed member'having its middle or second fol in .close proximity to saidxbody 11.,-Arai1 anchor comprising a body memrail` base {lange-engaging means disposed on one end ofsaid body member, an S- sha d member adapted to engage the under sur ace of a rail base i'ange disposed on the opposite end of said body member, a bend,a

shank terminatingin face of a rail base iiange and cooperating with said S- shaped member, saidl 'clamping means, said Sshaped member hav- -ing its middle or second fold in close roximity to said body member and to' said end.

12,. A rail anchor comprising a ber, rail ange-engagingmeans disposed on risin means to engage the upper surface o therewith, and a shank connecting said means for engaging the upper surface of the rail base iiange and said S-shaped member, whereby forces or stresses tending to distort portions may be inter- 14. A rail anchor comprising a body memrail y{hinge-engaging means disposed at one end thereof, rail {hinge-Ciampino means disposed at the other end of said bodymemq ber, said clamping means comprising means fiange, an S-sha the upper surface of a rail base d member cooperating with flange-engaging means, a

to engage said' upper rai to form a'rail basev flange-- body mema rai iange, and an S-shaped member cooperating therewith to grip said rail flange.v

to said S-shaped member,

signature l, to t shank connecting said upper rail base flangeengaging means on sai -Sshaped member, said shank and said S-shaped member being disposed to yieldingly lcooperate with said means for engaging the upper surface of said rail base flange. y

15. A rail anchor comprising a body member, rail angeenga 'ng' means disposed on one end thereof, an -shaped member adapt ed to yieldingly engage the under surface of a rail base fiange, means to engage the upper surface of a railbase flange cooperating with said S-shaped member, and a yieldable shank connecting said S-shaped member and said means to engage the upper surface of the rail base ange;

16. A rail ber, an S-shaped member anchor comprising a body memdisposed at one end Y ieldable shank, a bend connecting said yiel able shank and said S-shaped member disposed in close proximity to the second fold of said S-shaped member, said yieldable shank terminating in substantially rigid' means to engage the upper 'surface of. a rail base liange and cooperatin with said S-shaped member to form a railase ange-clampin means, and rail base Hangs-engaging means s osed on the opposite end of said body mem 1. s

17 A rail anchor comprising-a body member, rail ange-engaging means dis osed 4on one end ,of said body member, an gsha ed member adapted to engage the under sur ace of a rail base fiange disposed lon the opposite end of said body member`a shank connected said shank terminating in means to en ge the upper surface of a rail base iange an cooperating with said S-shaped member to form a rail base flangeclamping means, said S- shaped member having a portion thereof close proximity sald shank. 18. A rail anchor comprising a ber, rail flange-engagingmeans dis sed on one end of said body member, an -sha ed member adapted t'o engage the under sur ace of a rail base flange disposed on the opposite end of saidbody member, a bend, a shank con nected by s'aid bend to said S-shaped member, said shank terminating in means to en gage the upper surface of a rail base flange an cooperating with said S-s'haped member to form'a rail base flange-clamping means, said S-shaped member having1 a portion thereof in close proximity to sai bend.4 In testimony whereof, 1'. have axed my 1s eciication. l r CHAR ES B. SHEPHERD;

body memits 

